Darjeeling: A 53-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for sexual assault on an 11-year-old girl in Kalimpong, for three months in 2022.The accused has been identified as Furshang Sherpa, a resident of Gorubathan block. Special public prosecutor Nisha Rai said the special POCSO court pronounced the judgement on Thursday.The victim belongs to an economically weak family, lost her mother at a young age and is living with her elderly grandmother and father, who is mentally unstable. “The accused raped her and threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed the incident to anyone,” said Rai.A complaint was lodged at Gorubathan police station. Police then initiated an investigation. Based on the evidence presented, the court convicted Sherpa. The court has announced life imprisonment of the accused and further announced compensation for the victim.
